There’s the public testimony, starting at 8:30 a.m. Monday, and that’s been livening things up at recent meetings, on issues ranging from the ongoing deer management program to changes in bear and turkey seasons.

Later in the meeting, during the formal voting by commissioners on Tuesday, final approval is scheduled for the creation of a new wild pheasant recovery area, this one in Central Pennsylvania.

The Hegins-Gratz Valley WPRA will be the fourth established since last year by the commission. The other three are the Central Susquehanna WPRA in Northumberland, Montour and Columbia counties; Somerset WPRA in Somerset County; and Pike Run WPRA in Washington County.

In WPRAs, pheasant hunting is closed, dog training and all small game hunting is closed from the first Sunday in February through July 31, release of pen-raised pheasants is prohibited. The special regulations are in place while wild-trapped pheasants from South Dakota and Montana are released into the WPRA and for three years after the releases.

In partnership with Pheasants Forever Inc., local Pheasants Forever chapters, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, landowners, farmers and others, prior to the pheasant releases habitat improvements are made within the WPRA.

The new WPRA will cover portions of northeastern Dauphin County and western Schuylkill County.

Not on the official agenda, but sure to spur some discussion at the meeting will be a report from staff on possible changes in the current deer antler restrictions, which across most the state and for most hunters restricts a legally harvestable buck to one with three or more points to one antler.

In public testimony at recent commission meetings, several hunters – particularly senior hunters – have sought changes, noting that declining eyesight makes it difficult for some to spot the antler points that determine legality of a buck.

At the commissioners’ meeting in April, Commissioner Ralph Martone requested the report from staff on “options to eliminate the use of brow tines in determining antler restriction.”/p
In making the request, he noted, “I fully and wholeheartedly support antler restrictions and the resulting age class in bucks that it creates.”

However, he said, “this has generated a lot of discussion from sportsmen. I think it's something that we've heard, the whole Board has heard, a lot about and, if we can effectively do this without creating harm to the age class of the bucks.”

Antler restrictions were implemented several years ago to help more bucks advance into older age classes.

The commissioners’ meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. Monday at commission headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. The doors will open at 7:45 a.m., when registration for those interested in offering public testimony – limited to five minutes each – also will begin.

The meeting will resume at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, with the commissioners taking up the voting agenda.

For those unable to attend this meeting, the commission will webcast the meeting, beginning with the commission staff reports on Monday, immediately following the conclusion of public comments. An icon will be posted on the agency’s website on Monday to access the webcasts.